Capable of hauling heavier loads with an interchangeable and custom fit suspension system, the Osprey Aether 70 is a great option for week long backpacking adventures. Let’s take a look at some of its features.

Starting with the suspension system, I will turn the pack around and take a look at what we have got going on here. We are using Osprey’s Isoform Suspension System. It is a well padded, well ventilated suspension system that offers a lot of customization. So the shoulder straps or the harness and the hip belt can both be completely removed from this pack and you can pick the parts that you want to use. So if you have different sizing going on, you know, if you need a larger hip belt or a smaller hip belt you can certainly do that with this suspension system. So you have got really cool, interchangeable pieces here.

The parts on the Isoform Suspension System are very well padded and breathable. You have got nice spacer mesh on the back here and the mesh throughout the back panel so you have got really good breathability and there is kind of a foam ridged paneling there to provide some extra air flow. So it is Osprey’s Airscape Suspension System with the Isoform components, very nice pieces there. And you can swap them out so you can get different component sizes depending on your shape, so nice system overall in the suspension system of the Aether 70.

Turning the pack back around we have got a few different ways to access the contents of this backpack. It is a traditional top loading or hooded backpack, so you have got the top hood here that opens up to allow you to access this through a nice big spindrift collar at the top. It opens up with this draw cord here and you can access all the items atop very easily. And it does extend a little bit higher, so if you need to over pack the bag you can certainly do so, but if you just pack it relatively tight, you can cinch that spindrift collar down and have a nice easy pack size.

There is another access point, actually, on the front of this backpack. So if I do away with these compression straps here we have a nice J shaped zipper on the front of the backpack. So you have got access from the front without ever having to take that hood off. So you can easily get into all of the contents of the bag all the way down to that sleeping bag compartment directly from the front of the pack. So if you don’t like to keep on accessing things from the top, you can lay the pack down and access it from this J shaped zipper, a nice addition there. It makes it a lot more easy to access your contents.

We do also have a sleeping bag compartment at the bottom of the backpack. So down towards the bottom we have got these, you know, sleeping pad straps there that you can snap away. And you have a nice, sizable sleeping bag compartment down at the bottom. So you can stow your sleeping bag there or any other items that you may want to keep quick access to. And there is a divider for the main pack bag and the sleeping bag compartment and you can drop that or kind of remove the straps and allow for one continuous bag rather than two separated compartments. So you have got a really nice system down in the sleeping bag compartment of the backpack.

Taking a look at some of the other pockets on the backpack, we have got two stretch mesh pockets on the sides. So they are kind of oversized pockets on either side of the pack. There is a nice water bottle pocket there. And the cool thing about these pockets is you can actually put the water bottle in traditionally like I have it here, or you can have it in the angled portion to make it a little easier to access while you are actually carrying the bag. So it is kind of angled so you can just reach bag, grab the bottle, take a drink and stow it back away in here without awkwardly having to reach into the backpack. So nice system with the pockets there.

And we do have some inside out compression with those pockets. So you can see here I have got the compression strap kind of routed underneath the pocket. It makes it nice and streamlined and simple, but if I spin it to the other side, I have got the compression on the outside. So my trekking poles here are nice lashed down with that inside out compression on the outside of that pocket, so really nice stretch mesh pockets with inside out compression.

We do have two hip belt pockets, simple zippered hip belt pockets down on either side. So you have got a really nice system there. It provides some weather resistance on those pockets, not waterproof, but they will protect your gear.

On the hood we do have kind of just one big pocket. On the back here we have got a nice zippered pocket, so you can easily store some things in there: books, maps. I have got a water filter in there. You have got really easy access to lots of items on the hood of the backpack. And a neat feature about that is that it will completely remove and it also acts as a lumbar pack. So under this kind of grey panel on the underside you have actually got straps that have a buckle in them and you can remove that hood and use it as a lumbar pack or day hikes if you set up base camp and you just want to go explore some peaks or make a summit bit. You have got a nice detachable daypack there, so nice benefit.

On the front we have a stretchy mesh pocket. So it is kind of just a shove it pocket. You have got a clip at the top here that clips down, but nice sizable stretchy pocket. I have just got a rain shell in there. It extends the front portion of the backpack. It has got nice easy access pocket on the front of the bag.

Some of the other features on this bag include a hydration compatible system. So back around to the back side, we have got this little H20 tab here and a buckle. So there is actually a compartment separated. It is like a sleeve here with a clip at the top to hang your hydration bag. You can slide that in there and route the hose down along one of the shoulder straps. So hydration is not included. You know you have got to buy the actual bladder separately. But it is compatible with this backpack.

Durable haul loop there for carrying the bag so that is a nice sturdy handle. Around to the front we have got a few other things going on. You have got two tool loops and bungee tie offs so you can put some ice tools, ice axes, trekking poles, whichever you want to stow there. You have got removable sleeping pad straps at the bottom that double as compression straps. So you can lash your sleeping pad down here and if you choose not to use that, you can just remove that strap there, keep it a little more streamlined.

We do have some nice compression on the front here as well. So you have got a really nice kind of straight jacket compression style to really cinch down the gear if you need to. And for those times when you are carrying a smaller load, you kind of got some curious little clips on the top here and on the bottom down here. Those compression straps can actually extend all the way around and clip into those to cinch down a smaller capacity load if you are not carrying all your gear with you. So it is a nice additional feature with the compression and the compressibility of this backpack.

And there you have it. It is the Osprey Aether 70. It is a great option with customizable components for those week long backpacking adventures.

Constantly striving to enhance comfort and performance, Osprey has equipped the Aether 70 with a LightWire aluminum alloy peripheral frame and a recycled HDPE framesheet. A single vertical aluminum stay further bolsters the Aether 70's load-bearing capability. This design ensures your balance by effectively distributing weight. A textured, foam Airscape backpanel and IsoForm harness maximize comfort and help to reduce heat build-up between your back and the pack. Further enhancing fit, the revolutionary IsoForm CM hipbelt utilizes an ErgoPull closure that draws tension along the top and the bottom of the belt. A sliding sternum strap and load-lifter straps allow you to fine-tune fit with on-the-go adjustments. Each of four available sizes of the Aether 70 offers torso adjustability. The Small accommodates torsos ranging from 16"-18.5" in length, the Medium accommodates torso lengths ranging from 18"-20.5", the Large accommodates torso lengths ranging from 20"-22.5" and the XLarge is designed for torso lengths that exceed 22".

To further guarantee that the Aether 70 fits like a glove, Osprey offers swappable IsoForm CM hipbelts and shoulder harnesses. The S hipbelt fits waists ranging from 27"-31", the M hipbelt fits waists ranging from 30"-34", the L hipbelt fits waists ranging from 33"-37" and the XL hipbelt is designed for waists larger than 36". The Aether 70's IsoForm CM harness is available in four sizes. Each size of the harness provides a vertical adjustability of 2"-3". NOTE: For most backpackers, the shoulder harness size should match the selected pack size, but for those with wider or narrower shoulders, choose one size up or down for the best fit.

The Aether 70’s packbag is top-loading, but a sleeping bag compartment offers lower, front access. Additionally, a zipper on the front of the pack allows quick access to the main packbag. A large front pocket utilizes welded stretch woven Nylon fabric to serve as a convenient storage spot for layers of clothing or other gear. Elastic side pockets are the perfect place for stashing water bottles or other smaller items. Integrated hipbelt pockets provide a spot to keep essentials close at hand. Side compression straps enable you to cinch down your pack to keep contents safely and securely in place and also double as lash points for additional gear. Buckled straps that pass over the front of the packbag are designed to further enhance the compressibility of the Aether 70 and provide yet another place to lash gear.

Other features found on the Aether 70 include integrated trekking pole loops and a top lid that is removable for use as a lumbar pack. Removable straps located in front of the sleeping bag compartment securely stow sleeping pads. An external sleeve tucked behind the Airscape backpanel makes the Aether 70 hydration system (sold separately) compatible without eating into any internal capacity.

The Osprey Aether 70 is available in your choice of size and color options.

Likes:
The Osprey Aether 70 is designed to be a highly adjustable pack and Backcountry Edge is the only online or in-person store that will allow you customize the hipbelt and shoulder harness without buying additional parts. I am between sizes and originally bought a large pack at REI. After many adjustments I finally returned that bag and bought a medium with large waist and shoulder harness from Backcountry Edge. While some claim a larger pack, for those of us between sizes, helps with heavier loads. I feel the exact opposite. I have a few herniated discs in my neck and lower back and was able to comfortably carry a 50-60 lb pack as it felt more like a 25 lb pack. The pack is comfortable and transfers the weight directly to your hips without much, if any, stress to your shoulders. The pack is made from fairly durable material, my dog dragged it across some rocks during a break and the only thing that tore was the side mesh pocket, and that was minor. The pack is roomy, after taking it on an overnight family camping trip I wished I would have bought the Aether 60, so keep that in mind. I can fit everything I need inside of the pack (as well as my 7 year old daughter) to include: 2 sleeping bags, 2 sleeping bag liners, 2 sleeping mats (one horizontal on provided straps and one vertical), 3-person Kelty tent, Optimus crux and terra weekend cooking set, 6 packs of freeze-dried meals, Katadyn vario water filter, 4 shirts, 6 pairs of socks, and 2 pair of pants. The top is floating so you can use it to strap down overstuffed loads equally. The load lifter straps are great at pulling the weight close to your body to keep the pack balanced. It runs right against you back and the foam keeps you cool. The hipbelt pockets allowed me to hold snacks, chapstick, knife, and multi-tool. This is my first internal frame pack. I originally set out to buy a Kelty redwing 50 or coyote 80. What sold me on the Aether (no matter the liter size) was the comfort of the pack once it was on. While the Kelty promotes their PerfectFit system, I never seemed to be able to find a perfect fit. Price considered, on a tight budget the Kelty would be a great option, but it just doesn't carry the weight like the Aether pack seems to do. This pack will compress if you lighten your load during your trip.

Dislikes:
No enclosed side or front pockets for organization. For me, enclosed side pockets similar to military packs are standard. I like having them for easy access to socks without having to dig through the pack. I think this was done on purpose to push you toward buying the Osprey Daylite Daypack. I almost bought one, but I had trouble attaching the daypack to the Osprey Aether in the store and opted to not get the extra bag. The top pouch could have more than one compartment. It is touted as a removable waist pack but lacks the organization I want in a waist pack. The J-shaped zipper on the front could be improved to a U-shaped zipper allowing easier access to the inside of the bag. I needed something that was close to the bottom and couldn't find it, partially because the front zipper doesn't open completely. The sleeping pad straps are rather short and I had to roll my military style sleeping pad tightly to get it attached. No daisy chain loops on the front. On my trip in the pack did slip some because I was sweating, it was 100+ in Texas. On the hike out I did not have this problem. Most of these dislikes are missing from the Aether 70 to save on weight and I can live without them.

Reviewed by Joshua B. - July 14, 2016

A good, versatile pack

Likes:
Multiple access points into main compartment. Hip belt is interchangeable for different sizes. Good pack size and weight for multi-day trips.

Dislikes:
Several of the straps installed seem to be a bit longer than necessary. Might need to trim them a bit to keep them from being annoying. Just a nitpick, since you asked.

Reviewed by Chris H. - June 29, 2016

Osprey Aether 70 Backpack

Likes:
I absolutely love this pack. It is great for overnighters all the way up to week long trips.

Dislikes:
n/a

Reviewed by Byong C. - June 17, 2016

Great Fit

Likes:
I love the ability of the different sizing options. The pack sits well on the hips and keeps the weight centered.

Dislikes:
None so far.

Reviewed by Chris - July 7, 2015

Likes:
After a seasons use, I would buy again. Weight distributed nicely on back makes hikes enjoyable. Exterior arrangements allows items to be easily reached hiking or resting.

Dislikes:
Doesn't store compacted when not in use perhaps will become easier after many years of use.

Reviewed by Inside Edge M. - March 15, 2015

Likes:
I liked the solid constuction, materials & zippers and ability to make adjustments using the multiple straps. However I realized it was too big for my needs and am exchanging it for an Aether 60, which Backcountry Edge promptly shipped to me.

Dislikes:
No negatives at all!

Reviewed by Inside Edge M. - January 12, 2015

Likes:
Perfect Size for me. I wish I would have got this sooner.

Dislikes:
Nothing so far

Reviewed by Josh S. - December 15, 2014

Likes:
Osprey makes amazing stuff and the aether series is the pinnacle of this. Amazing backpack with plenty of space for everything you need plus the durability to stand up to years of abuse.

Dislikes:
Nothing

Reviewed by Inside Edge M. - September 24, 2014

Likes:
I love this bag. Its lightweight, and has just enough features. The J shaped access zipper on the front is crucial to get out a clean shirt or socks when my pack is full. Good compression straps, the side mesh pocket straps can be routed through the pocket or outside of it. The floating lid is nice and has a hip belt stashed on the underside so you can detach and take on day hikes. I purchased the Osprey Daylite pack which attaches to the front of the aether when I'm hiking in. This feature alone has been awesome. I even went to my local REI and had them mold the hip belt which has been great for distributing the load better across my hips.

Dislikes:
nothing at the moment. In general it would be nice if apacks had more of a structured hydration sleeve. On longer hikes it is a pain getting a refilled bladder back into a full pack.

Reviewed by Fielding H. - June 5, 2014

Likes:
I tested this pack on an 11 mile up and back shakedown with a 2000' gain. It is my 6th pack. I am 6'4" and 250 lbs. I carried 36 lbs. up. It was so comfortable, I didn't even drop the back for breaks. It felt like I was only packing 20 lbs.
The belt is amazing. It makes such a huge difference on how the load carries.